Nab-Paclitaxel in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer: An Institution Based Retrospective Study

Abstract

Introduction: Nab-paclitaxel is a novel cremophor free nanoparticle of albumin-stabilized paclitaxel. We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of the nab-paclitaxel in recurrent ovarian cancer patients. Methods: 17 patients of recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer with platinum and taxane resistance defined by persistent or progressive disease following recurrence within six months of treatment completion and measurable disease according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) or elevated CA-125 (= 70 U/mL) in patients without measurable disease were included in trial. Patients were treated with nab-paclitaxel for six cycles or until disease progression. Results: Median age of patients was 62 years; 76% of patients had stage IIIC or IV disease, 82% had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0, and 88% had prior surgery. For assessable patients, the objective response rate (ORR) was 58% (6 complete responses [CR] and 4 partial responses [PR] among 17 assessable patients). In patients evaluated with RECIST only, the ORR was 44.4% (one CR and three PR of 9 patients). In patients with only elevated CA-125, ORR was 75% (5 CRs and 1 PRs of 8 patients). Median time to response was 1.3 months (range 0.5 to 4.8 months). Estimated median progression-free survival was 8.5 months. The most frequent grade 3 to 4 treatment-related toxicities were neutropenia (35%) and neuropathy (11%). Conclusion: Nab-paclitaxel as a single agent in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer seems to be well tolerated and effective in patients who are previously treated with paclitaxel or platins.